Jainism The Cosmic Vision

SR No.: 034278
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Mahavir Foundation
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 137
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 2 MB

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Jainism: The Cosmic Vision trace of it was left on the face of the great yogi Mahavira. He thought in his compassionate heart, "Alas! What will happen to this poor soul ? He has burdened himself with what a huge load of Karma all because of me." Kalikalsarvajnya Hemchandracharya says:
कृतापराधेऽपि जने कृपामन्थरतारयोः ।
ईषद्बाष्पान्योर्मद्रं श्रीवीरजिनेनेत्रयोः।। [Beneficent are Bhagwan Mahavira's eyes which emit pity on his tormentors and which are wet with tears in the corners on account of his compassion for them.]
And then his eyes opened wide, with tears glistening at the ends of each of his two lotus-like eyes. Seeing the tears Sangama danced and spoke, "Oh! the pitying eyes of forgiving God will surely bless me though I have tormented him."
Once upon a time Bhagwan Mahavira thought that in order to cast off Karma, he should go to a place where man was man's enemy, where nobody knew what a monk was and where he had no friends and acquaintances. He wanted to put the religion of Ahimsa (non-violence), the religion of love, to test. So, he went to the Anarya region named Radha where it was difficult even to survive. Here people were unkind and cruel. They bruised his body in a hundred ways. Wild dogs tore at his flesh. At that time one of his disciples said, "Shell we not keep with us a stick at least to keep them off ?"
"In that case our vow of Ahimsa will be broken", said Mahavira.
There he was tormented almost to death, but Mahavira did not deviate from his path at all.
It is said in the Acharanga Sutra:
Non Violence : A Way of Life सूरो संग्राम-सीसेवा, संवुडे तत्थ से महावीरे ।
पडिसेवमाणे कससाई अचले भगवं रीइत्था ।। [As the body of an armoured warrior remains un wounded in war, so Bhagwan Mahavira showed great fortitude even in the midst of torments.]
In the twelfth year of his initiation, Bhagwan stood in meditation under a tree on the outskirts of the town Chhammani. An incident, similar to that which had happened on the first day of his initiation, happened again. Leaving his bullocks to the care of Mahavira, a cowherd left for some work. Bhagwan Mahavira, who was in meditation, did not say anything. Taking his silence as consent, the cowherd went away. The grazing bullocks disappeared into a thicket nearby. The cowherd returned and did not find his bullocks there, asked, "O, Monk ! Where are my bullocks ?" But he got no reply. He asked second time. But Mahavira was in meditation How could he give an answer ? The cowherd's anger knew no bounds. "I have been asking so often, and you do not answer, nor do you show any other sign to reassure me about my bullocks. Are those your ears of little earthen bowls ? Do you have oil poured into your ears? Those ears have done you no good, it seems. Let me fill them up." The cowherd said, and brought two straight long thorns.
The stupid cowherd pushed the nail-like thorns into the ears of the great yogi. Lest someone should pull out the thorns, he cut off their outer ends. Even then Mahavira did not stir, and nor did he give any other sign.
Then Mahavira went to the town, Madhyama. He asked for alms from a Bania named Siddhartha. An expert physician named Kharaka had come to Siddhartha's place. He found the
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